Information processing apparatus, information pocessing method, and computer program

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method for information processing that enable effective content management and retrieval are provided. Content attribute information is obtained via a recording medium such as a CD or the like, a network, or as user input data, an artist name is extracted from the obtained content attribute information, initial letter information is determined on a basis of the artist name, and the initial letter information is stored and registered as content management information in a data storage unit. Also, editing of the registered information is made possible. This constitution enables a data search process using the initial letter information as a search key and a sort process. Further, the artist name is automatically determined and registered regardless of a kind of the artist name such as the alphabet, kana, or katakana. Therefore a process is made possible which generates and registers the management data efficiently and quickly and hence reduces a burden on the user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus andan information processing method, and a computer program. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to an information processingapparatus and an information processing method, and a computer programthat make it possible to easily extract contents desired by a user froma data storage unit storing a large number of musical contents and thusrealize efficient content retrieval and management.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, information processing apparatuses such as PCs, portabledevices, and the like having a high-capacity storage unit such as ahigh-capacity hard disk, a DVD, or the like have spread. Many usersusing contents retain and manage a large amount of contents such asmusic data, image data, and the like in storage means. These pieces ofdata are stored as digital data compressed by for example MP3, ATRAC, orthe like, and are encrypted as required and managed.

In addition, a form of use of contents is becoming common in whichmusical contents are downloaded from a music distribution serverconnected to a network and stored on a recording medium in a PC, andthen output (checked out) to a portable device of a user when necessaryto enjoy the contents being reproduced.

In such a form of use of contents, a large amount of contents isintegrated and stored on a hard disk in a PC. As an application forperforming processes of managing and reproducing such stored contents,there is a jukebox application typified by SonicStage (trademark), forexample. Generally, such a content managing application manages contentsby constructing a database relating content files, content attributeinformation, and content use right information set as required to eachother. The content managing application allows content retrieval basedon various attribute information, and implements a configuration forcontent use under a predetermined copyright management.

Such a jukebox application allows data retrieval and access based onvarious content information in order to improve retrievability when alarge amount of albums including a plurality of musical pieces is storedwithin a database.

There is for example a jukebox application that allows retrieval andaccess with the name of an artist of an album as a key. Specifically,the jukebox application performs a retrieval process based on an artistname set as attribute information of an album stored in a database whena user inputs the artist name as a retrieving keyword, and performs aprocess of for example presenting information matching the input artistname on a display of a PC.

When musical contents are downloaded from a music distribution serverand stored on a recording medium of the PC, for example, variousattribute information and right information such as the name of analbum, the name of an artist, musical piece length information, contentuse right information, and the like are provided to the user. Also, aprocess is performed to obtain content information recorded within arecording medium such as a CD or the like when contents are input fromthe CD and stored on the recording medium of the PC, or contentinformation from an external server, and then store the contentinformation as content management information in a storage unit of thePC. The jukebox application typified by SonicStage, for example, managescontents on the basis of the obtained information. Incidentally, PatentDocument 1, for example, as a conventional technique discloses a processof obtaining content information.

However, content attribute information set in correspondence withmusical data as content entities is generally full names of artists. Theuser is requested to input information corresponding to there pieces ofset attribute information, that is, full names of artists as searchkeywords. However, users often do not remember spellings of foreignartists correctly, and there are not a few cases where users cannotremember names of even Japanese artists. In such cases, the function ofdata retrieval based on artist names cannot play its role sufficiently.

There is a retrieval service providing site that provides the service ofa retrieval process based on an initial letter of an artist as an objectof retrieval. In this case, however, since retrieval using an initialletter prepared in advance by a content provider as a key is performed,the name of an artist may not match with the user's intention, and thusretrieval that satisfies the user is not performed as intended.

An application performing data processing on contents managed by anindividual such as the jukebox application typified by SonicStage, forexample, requires a user to input an initial letter of each artist inorder to enable retrieval using an initial letter. There is a method ofusing a first character of an artist name without managing initialletters separately. In this case, however, when only alphabeticcharacters A to Z, for example, are set as initial letter data, noalphabetic character can be associated with an artist written in Chinesecharacters or the like.

[Patent Document 1]

Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-59244

DESCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, andit is an object of the present invention to provide an informationprocessing apparatus and an information processing method, and acomputer program that enable a data retrieval and a sort process basedon an initial letter of an artist name, and enable retrieval and accessintended by a user by allowing a process by a user of editing an initialletter of an artist name set in correspondence with each album in aconfiguration in which a large number of contents are integrated into adatabase and thus managed.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an informationprocessing apparatus includes: a data storage unit for storing a contentfile including content entity data and content management information;and a data processing unit for extracting an artist name from contentattribute information as the content management information, determininginitial letter information on a basis of the extracted artist name, andstoring the content management information including the determinedinitial letter information as the content management informationcorresponding to the content file in the data storage unit.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing apparatusaccording to the present invention, the data processing unit obtainscontent information stored on an information recording medium as acontent input source, extracts the artist name from the obtained contentinformation, and determines the initial letter information on the basisof the extracted artist name.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing apparatusaccording to the present invention, the data processing unit extractsthe artist name from content information received via a network, anddetermines the initial letter information on the basis of the extractedartist name.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing apparatusaccording to the present invention, the data processing unit receivescontent information from a server providing service that is either TOCservice or hash information service, extracts the artist name from thereceived content information, and determines the initial letterinformation on the basis of the extracted artist name.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing apparatusaccording to the present invention, the data processing unit obtainscontent information based on a user input, extracts the artist name fromthe obtained content information, and determines the initial letterinformation on the basis of the extracted artist name.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing apparatusaccording to the present invention, when a first character of the artistname is formed by an alphabetic character, the data processing unitdetermines the first character as an initial letter, and when the firstcharacter of the artist name is formed by a hiragana or katakanacharacter, the data processing unit converts the first character into analphabetic character on a basis of a character conversion table, anddetermines the converted character as an initial letter.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing apparatusaccording to the present invention, the data processing unit performs aninitial letter editing process of changing the initial letterinformation included in the content management information registered inthe data storage unit on a basis of a user input, and registering thechanged initial letter information.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing apparatusaccording to the present invention, the data processing unit outputs anediting screen for editing content management information correspondingto one artist name from the content management information registered inthe data storage unit to a display, changes initial letter informationcorresponding to the one artist name on a basis of a user input to theediting screen, and registers the changed initial letter information.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing apparatusaccording to the present invention, the data processing unit outputs anediting screen for editing content management information correspondingto a plurality of artist names from the content management informationregistered in the data storage unit to a display, changes en blocinitial letter information corresponding to the plurality of artistnames on a basis of user inputs to the editing screen, and registers enbloc the changed initial letter information.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing apparatusaccording to the present invention, the data processing unit performs adata search process using initial letter information in the contentmanagement information registered in the data storage unit as a searchkey, and extracts and presents content management information in whichinitial letter information corresponding to user-input information isregistered.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, aninformation processing method for performing a process of registeringcontent management information includes: a content attribute informationobtaining step of obtaining content attribute information; an artistname extracting step of extracting an artist name from the contentattribute information; an initial letter information determining step ofdetermining initial letter information on a basis of the extractedartist name; and a content management information registering step ofstoring and registering content information including the determinedinitial letter information as content management informationcorresponding to a content file in a data storage unit.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing methodaccording to the present invention, the content attribute informationobtaining step is a process to which either a process of obtaining thecontent information stored on an information recording medium as asource from which contents are obtained, or a process of obtaining thecontent information via a network, or a process of obtaining the contentinformation on a basis of a user input is selectively applied.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing methodaccording to the present invention, the content attribute informationobtaining step is a step of receiving the content information from aserver providing service that is either TOC service or hash informationservice.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing methodaccording to the present invention, in the initial letter informationdetermining step, when a first character of the artist name is formed byan alphabetic character, the first character is determined as an initialletter, and when the first character of the artist name is formed by ahiragana or katakana character, the first character is converted into analphabetic character on a basis of a character conversion table, and theconverted character is determined as an initial letter.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing methodaccording to the present invention, the information processing methodfurther includes a step of performing an initial letter editing processof changing the initial letter information included in the contentmanagement information registered in the data storage unit on a basis ofa user input, and registering the changed initial letter information.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing methodaccording to the present invention, the information processing methodfurther includes a step of outputting an editing screen for editingcontent management information corresponding to one artist name from thecontent management information registered in the data storage unit to adisplay, changing initial letter information corresponding to the oneartist name on a basis of a user input to the editing screen, andregistering the changed initial letter information.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing methodaccording to the present invention, the information processing methodfurther includes a step of outputting an editing screen for editingcontent management information corresponding to a plurality of artistnames from the content management information registered in the datastorage unit to a display, changing en bloc initial letter informationcorresponding to the plurality of artist names on a basis of user inputsto the editing screen, and registering en bloc the changed initialletter information.

Further, in one embodiment of the information processing methodaccording to the present invention, the information processing methodfurther includes a step of performing a data search process usinginitial letter information in the content management informationregistered in the data storage unit as a search key, and extracting andpresenting content management information in which initial letterinformation corresponding to user-input information is registered.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, acomputer program for performing a process of registering contentmanagement information includes: a content attribute informationobtaining step of obtaining content attribute information; an artistname extracting step of extracting an artist name from the contentattribute information; an initial letter information determining step ofdetermining initial letter information on a basis of the extractedartist name; and a content management information registering step ofstoring and registering content information including the determinedinitial letter information as content management informationcorresponding to a content file in a data storage unit.

The computer program according to the present invention can for examplebe provided to a computer system capable of executing various programcodes by a recording medium provided in a computer readable form, or acommunicating medium, for example a recording medium such as a CD, anFD, an MO or the like, or a communicating medium such as a network orthe like. The program in a computer readable form realizes a process inaccordance with the program on the computer system.

Other and further objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from more detailed description on thebasis of accompanying drawings and embodiments of the present inventionto be described later. It is to be noted that a system in the presentspecification is a logical set configuration of a plurality ofapparatus, and that each component apparatus is not necessarily withinan identical casing.

According to the constitution of the present invention, contentattribute information is obtained via a recording medium such as a CD orthe like, a network, or as user input data, an artist name is extractedfrom the obtained content attribute information, initial letterinformation is determined on a basis of the artist name, and contentinformation including the initial letter information is stored andregistered in a data storage unit as content management informationcorresponding to a content file. Therefore a data search process usingthe initial letter information in the content management information asa search key and a sort process are made possible.

Further, according to the constitution of the present invention, thecontent management information including the initial letter informationof the artist name is automatically determined and registered regardlessof a kind of the artist name such as the alphabet, kana, or katakana.Therefore a process is made possible which generates and registers themanagement data efficiently and quickly and hence reduces a burden onthe user.

Further, according to the constitution of the present invention, thecontent information including the initial letter information of theartist name is stored and registered in the data storage unit as thecontent management information corresponding to the content file, andediting including a process of changing the registered information ismade possible. Therefore, even when there is registered data that doesnot suit an image of the user as a result of the automatic registration,the data can be changed and set, so that management data respecting anintention of the user can be generated and registered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a form of use of an informationprocessing apparatus managing content data according to the presentinvention which apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of assistance in explaining processing functions ofthe information processing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing an example of an album/musicalpiece table and an ID correspondence table;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of assistance in explaining relations betweenalbums, musical pieces, and musical piece files;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of assistance in explaining a content registeringprocess procedure for inputting contents from a CD, and storing theinput contents and content information such as the name of an album andthe like in a data storage unit;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of assistance in explaining an example of a screen,which is generated by a GUI unit at the time of a ripping process,displayed on a display;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of assistance in explaining details of a fileregistration process;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of assistance in explaining a detailed processsequence of an initial letter automatic determination routine;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of assistance in explaining a process for changinga registered initial letter corresponding to one artist name fromregistered data;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of album information displayedwhen a registered initial letter corresponding to one artist name fromregistered data is changed;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of assistance in explaining a process forchanging en bloc registered initial letters corresponding to a pluralityof artist names from the registered data;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an artist name editing screendisplayed at the time of the process for changing en bloc registeredinitial letters corresponding to a plurality of artist names from theregistered data;

FIG. 13 is a diagram of assistance in explaining an example of use ofinitial letter information;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of assistance in explaining an example of use ofthe initial letter information; and

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration ofthe information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a form of use of an informationprocessing apparatus for managing content data according to the presentinvention. The information processing apparatus 100 is formed by apersonal computer, for example. The information processing apparatus 100has a data storage unit 120 for storing musical data, managementinformation, and the like. The information processing apparatus 100 isconnected to a network including a local area network, the Internet, orthe like.

The information processing apparatus 100 records, in the data storageunit 120, musical contents received from content servers 151 and 152such as EMD (Electronic Music Distribution) servers or the likeconnected to the network, or musical contents read from an informationrecording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc) or the like. Incidentally,the recording data is recorded after being subjected to an encodingprocess of MP3 or ATRAC3, for example, and further subjected to anencryption process as required.

The content servers 151 and 152 transmit for example musical data ascontents, attribute information corresponding to the contents, and rightinformation related to use of the contents via the network in responseto a request from the information processing apparatus 100. Theattribute information includes the name of an album, the name of anartist, the names of musical pieces stored on the album, information onlengths of the musical pieces, and the like. The information processingapparatus 100 stores the contents downloaded from these servers in thedata storage unit 120, and also stores the various attribute informationcorresponding to the downloaded contents and the right informationtogether with the contents. The attribute information includes the nameof the album, the name of the artist, the information on the lengths ofthe musical pieces, the right information on the use of the contents,and the like.

The right information includes for example information on the number ofcheck-outs as information limiting the number of portable devices (PDs)that can simultaneously use the contents corresponding to the rightinformation, and information indicating whether the contents can becopied.

The information processing apparatus 100 can output (check out) thecontents to a portable device 130 via a USB cable or the like togetherwith for example the management information and the right informationassociated with the contents. However, this check-out process is carriedout under control based on the right information corresponding to thecontents.

On a commercial CD album or the like storing a plurality of pieces ofmusical data as digital data, information such as the number of tracksrecorded on the CD, a start position, a length of a data area of eachmusical piece, and the like is recorded in advance as index information.This information is generally referred to as TOC (Table Of Contents)information.

There is musical piece information providing service based on TOC (TableOf Contents) information as an information providing service via theInternet or the like. The information processing apparatus 100 transmitsTOC information recorded on a CD to a musical piece informationproviding server 161. Thus, the information processing apparatus 100 canobtain musical piece information corresponding to the TOC stored on theCD, for example the names of a title and an album, the name of anartist, and a track number. Many jukebox applications such as WindowsMedia Player, RealOne, SonicStage, and the like provide informationproviding service using TOC information service such as CDDB2 or thelike. The information processing apparatus 100 stores the informationobtained from the server as management data corresponding to thecontents in the data storage unit 120.

Further, the information processing apparatus 100 generates hash datafrom waveform data of one musical piece unit, that is, each piece ofmusical piece data, and then transmits the generated hash data to themusical piece information providing server 123. The server sideidentifies a musical piece on the basis of the hash data. Theinformation processing apparatus 100 receives the names of a title andan album, the name of an artist, a track number, and the like as musicalpiece information, and then stores the musical piece information asmanagement data corresponding to the contents in the data storage unit120.

Processing functions of the information processing apparatus accordingto the present invention will next be described with reference to FIG.2. The information processing apparatus 100 has a data processing unit110 and the data storage unit 120. The data processing unit includes aGUI unit 111, a content management processing unit 112, a contenttransfer processing unit 113, a musical piece managing unit 114, a fileretrieving unit 115, a PC plug-in 116, a PD plug-in 117, a communicatingunit 118, and a drive 119. The data storage unit 120 stores a rightinformation storage unit 121, a musical piece management informationstorage unit 122, a musical piece file storage unit 123, an additionalinformation storage unit 124, and a character conversion table 125.

The data processing unit 110 includes a CPU for performing dataprocessing according to a computer program, a RAM and a ROM as storageareas for programs and parameters, and the like. Specific hardwareconfiguration of the data processing unit 110 will be described later.Details of each block shown in FIG. 2 will be described in thefollowing.

The GUI (Graphical User Interface) unit 111 generates various datainput-output screens and presents the data input-output screens on adisplay. The GUI unit 111 functions as a data input unit and a dataoutput unit. The data input unit corresponds to an operation of akeyboard or a mouse by a user. The data output unit displays variousinformation such as content information, content reproduction stateinformation, content download information, content transfer stateinformation, and the like.

For example, the GUI unit 111 generates a process screen and presentsthe screen on the display. The process screen displays a process ofcapturing a musical piece from the information recording medium 132(ripping) when an information recording medium 132 such as a CD or thelike is loaded into the drive 119. The screen also displays a process ofdownloading contents from a content server.

Main functions of the content management processing unit 112 are tocontrol a content downloading process, a content capturing process, anda content reproducing process.

The content management processing unit 112 performs for example aprocess of downloading contents specified by the user from the contentserver 151 or 152 via the communicating unit 118 on the basis of contentspecifying information specified by the user, for example URLinformation, and a process of inputting contents from the informationrecording medium 132 loaded in the drive 119. The downloaded contents orthe input contents are stored in the musical piece file storage unit 122of the data storage unit 120 via the musical piece managing unit 114.

The content management processing unit 112 also performs contentreproduction. In response to a reproduction request input via the GUIunit 111, the content management processing unit 112 outputs a contentidentifier (content ID) as content specifying information to the musicalpiece managing unit 114. The musical piece managing unit 114 obtains afile name corresponding to the content identifier (content ID), and thenprovides a musical piece file obtained by file retrieval performed bythe file retrieving unit 115 to the content management processing unit112. The content management processing unit 112 controls reproduction ofthe obtained content file. Incidentally, this reproduction control isperformed on the basis of right information of the contents.

The musical piece managing unit 114 for example performs a process ofobtaining various data stored in the data storage unit 120, for exampleobtaining musical piece management information, a musical piece file,right information, or additional information such as a jacket image,lyric information, and the like in response to a user input via the GUIunit 111. For example, when a request to obtain musical pieceinformation is made via the GUI unit 111, the musical piece managingunit 114 obtains content information such as content IDs, the names ofalbums, the names of musical pieces, the names of artists, initialletters of the names of the artists, and the like from the musical piecemanagement information storage unit 122 of the data storage unit 120 inresponse to the user request. The musical piece managing unit 114supplies the content information to the GUI unit 111. The GUI unitdisplays the information on the display.

When the user selects a specific content from the content informationdisplayed on the display, and then inputs a reproduction request, theGUI unit 111 supplies a musical piece ID corresponding to contentsrequested to be reproduced to the content management processing unit112, and thereby requests reproduction of the contents. The contents arereproduced via the PC plug-in 116.

At the time of the content reproduction process, the musical piecemanaging unit 114 obtains a file name corresponding to the musical pieceID from the musical piece management information storage unit 122, makesthe file retrieving unit 115 obtain a file on the basis of the filename, and then obtains the content file from the musical piece filestorage unit 123. The musical piece managing unit 114 outputs theobtained musical piece file to the content management processing unit112. The content management processing unit 112 outputs the obtainedcontents to an external output device (for example a speaker 131) viathe PC (Protected Content) plug-in 116.

Incidentally, in the content reproduction process, reproduction isperformed after a decoding process corresponding to an encryption modeand an encoding mode of the contents is performed.

When a request for a process of outputting contents to the externaldevice 130 such as a portable device (PD) or the like (check-out) orinputting contents from the external device 130 (check-in) is input by auser operation via the GUI unit 111, the GUI unit 111 supplies a musicalpiece ID corresponding to the contents requested to be transferred tothe content transfer processing unit 113, and thereby requests transferof the contents. The contents are transferred via the PD plug-in 117.

When the content transfer processing unit 113 receives the musical pieceID from the GUI unit 111 and is thus requested to transfer the contents,the content transfer processing unit 113 supplies the musical piece IDto the musical piece managing unit 114. The musical piece managing unit114 obtains a file name corresponding to the musical piece ID from themusical piece management information storage unit 122, makes the fileretrieving unit 115 obtain a file on the basis of the file name, andthen obtains the content file from the musical piece file storage unit123. The musical piece managing unit 114 outputs the obtained musicalpiece file to the content transfer processing unit 113. The contenttransfer processing unit 113 supplies the obtained contents to the PDplug-in 117. At the time of transferring the contents to the externaldevice 130 such as the portable device or the like, the PD plug-in 117performs mutual authentication, and transfers the contents on conditionthat the authentication is established.

In response to a process request from the GUI unit 111, the contentmanagement processing unit 112, or the content transfer processing unit113, the musical piece managing unit 114 performs a process of forexample obtaining, updating, or deleting data from the data storage unit120.

For example, on the basis of a musical piece ID specified from thecontent management processing unit 112 or the content transferprocessing unit 113, the musical piece managing unit 114 obtains acontent file name corresponding to the musical piece ID from contentmanagement information stored in the musical piece managementinformation storage unit 122. The musical piece managing unit 114outputs an instruction to retrieve a musical piece file on the basis ofthe file name to the file retrieving unit 115. The musical piecemanaging unit 114 supplies the musical piece file obtained by the fileretrieving unit 115 from the musical piece file storage unit 123 to thecontent management processing unit 112 or the content transferprocessing unit 113.

The musical piece managing unit 114 further performs a process ofinputting contents downloaded by the content management processing unit112 from an external server and contents input from an informationrecording medium such as a CD or the like into the data storage unit120.

In this data storing process, the musical piece managing unit 114generates a content file according to a data format of MP3, OMG, WMA, orthe like, and then stores the content file in the musical piece filestorage unit 123. In addition to the entity data of the contents, themusical piece managing unit 114 stores attribute information of thecontents, such for example as the name of a musical piece, the name ofan album, and the name of an artist, in the musical piece managementinformation storage unit 122. Further, the musical piece managing unit114 stores right information as information on a right to use of thecontents in the right information storage unit 121, and storesadditional information such as a jacket image, lyric data, and the likein the additional information storage unit 124.

In addition, on the basis of a process request input from the user viathe GUI unit 111, the musical piece managing unit 114 performs a processof recording, updating, or deleting data stored in the musical piecemanagement information storage unit 122 of the data storage unit 120.The data includes content information such as the name of an album, thename of a musical piece, and the name of an artist corresponding tocontents, the name of a file corresponding to the contents, and thelike. The musical piece managing unit 114 also performs a process ofreading these pieces of content information.

Further, in response to a data retrieval request from the GUI unit 111,the musical piece managing unit 114 retrieves data on the basis ofinformation recorded in the musical piece management information storageunit 122. The musical piece managing unit 114 thereby reads contentattribute information such as the name of an album, the name of anartist, the name of a musical piece, a musical piece ID, and the like asa result of the retrieval from the musical piece management informationstorage unit 122, and then supplies the content attribute information tothe GUI unit 111.

In response to a request from the musical piece managing unit 114, onthe basis of a file name obtained from the musical piece managementinformation storage unit 122 of the data storage unit 120, the fileretrieving unit 115 retrieves a content storing file corresponding tothe file name from the musical piece file storage unit 123. The fileretrieving unit 115 supplies the file read from the musical piece filestorage unit 123 to the musical piece managing unit 114.

The musical piece managing unit 114 supplies the content storing filesupplied from the file retrieving unit 115 to the content managementprocessing unit 112 or the content transfer processing unit 113.

The data storage unit 120 stores the right information storage unit 121,the musical piece management information storage unit 122, the musicalpiece file storage unit 123, the additional information storage unit124, and the character conversion table 125.

The musical piece management information storage unit 122 stores data oncontents, for example musical piece IDs, the names of albums, the namesof musical pieces, the names of artists, initial letter information ofthe artists, content file names, and various other content information.The musical piece management information storage unit 122 for exampleconstructs a relational database including a plurality of managementtables to manage contents. Specifically, the musical piece managementinformation storage unit 122 manages data by a plurality of tables suchas an album/musical piece table in which albums and musical pieces areset as main managing items, a file table in which file names are set asmain managing items, and the like.

FIG. 3A shows an example of the album/musical piece table. As shown inFIG. 3, the album/musical piece table includes corresponding data ofitems such for example as an ID set to an album or a musical piece, thename of the album, he name of the musical piece, the name of an artist,an initial letter of the artist, the name of a genre, and the name of amusical piece file.

The ID is an identifier set in correspondence with an album or a musicalpiece. The ID is a unique identifier set to each album or each musicalpiece and enabling each album or each musical piece to be identified.

Relations between albums, musical pieces, and musical piece files willbe described with reference to FIG. 4. An album is set as a set of aplurality of musical pieces of a single artist, for example. However,this is not essential; an album including a single musical piece may beset. A musical piece is set as a child of an album. Each musical pieceis stored as a musical piece file in accordance with various dataformats (OMG, MP3, WMA, or the like) and as a data file for each musicalpiece in the musical piece file storage unit 123 shown in FIG. 2.

An item [ID] set in the album/musical piece table shown in FIG. 3A is anidentifier set in correspondence with an album or a musical piece. Asdescribed with reference to FIG. 4, an album and a musical piece are setin a relation of a parent and a child, respectively. As shown in FIG.3B, the musical piece management information storage unit 122 stores anID correspondence table showing parent-child relations of IDs. A processof identifying an album from a musical piece and a process ofidentifying musical pieces included in an album from the album are madepossible on the basis of this ID correspondence table. For example, evenwhen retrieval based on a specification of a musical piece ID isperformed, an album ID corresponding to the musical piece ID isextracted by referring to the ID correspondence table, and thus albuminformation is obtained.

In addition to the ID, items set in the album/musical piece table shownin FIG. 3A include [album or musical piece name], [artist name], [artistinitial letter], [genre name], and [musical piece file name].

In the example shown in FIG. 3A, a first entry, for example, shows that:

ID=1

Album name=AlubumA

Artist name=Jamiroquai

Artist initial letter=J

Genre name=Funk

Musical piece file name=No file name

An album is a set of musical pieces, and no musical piece file name isset to an album.

In the example shown in FIG. 3A, a second entry shows that:

ID=2

Musical piece name=Song-A

Artist name=Jamiroquai

Artist initial letter=J

Genre name=Funk

Musical piece file name=C:/Root/Song-A/track.omg

In the case of a musical piece, the name of a musical piece file storedin the musical piece file storage unit 123 is set to the musical piece.

The second entry in FIG. 3A has an ID=2, and hence an album ID=1 as aparent ID can be extracted on the basis of the ID correspondence tableof FIG. 3B. It is also possible to conversely retrieve child musicalpieces, that is, musical pieces included in the album on the basis ofthe album ID=1.

Returning to FIG. 2, description of the configuration of the informationprocessing apparatus will be continued. The musical piece managementinformation storage unit 122 stores the above-described contentmanagement information. The musical piece file storage unit 123 storesfiles in units of a musical piece. The files are stored in variousformats such for example as MP3, ATRAC3, OMG, and WMA. An identicalmusical piece may be stored in different data formats. For example, fora musical piece B-1 as a child of an album B shown in FIG. 4, a datafile B-1.MP3 in the MP3 format and a data file B-1.OMG in the OMG formatare stored in the musical piece file storage unit 123.

The additional information storage unit 124 stores additional datacorresponding to contents, such for example as jacket image data andlyric information, or recording date and time data.

The right information storage unit 121 stores right informationcorresponding to files complying with a standard defined by SDMI (SecureDigital Music Initiative), for example. The right information storageunit 121 retrieves one piece of right information corresponding to amusical piece ID when receiving the musical piece ID from the musicalpiece managing unit 114, and then supplies the retrieved rightinformation to the musical piece managing unit 114. In a process forreproducing contents in the content management processing unit 112 or aprocess for transferring contents in the content transfer processingunit 113, use of the contents is controlled on the basis of the rightinformation.

The character conversion table 125 is a conversion table of a Hepburnsystem, for example, for converting hiragana or katakana characters intothe alphabet. This character conversion table is used to set initialletter information set in the content (musical piece) managementinformation. A concrete process will be described later.

Processes performed in the information processing apparatus according tothe present invention will next be described. Description will first bemade of a process in registering a new content file, that is, storingthe new content file in the data storage unit 121. Incidentally,contents are for example downloaded from a content server or input fromvarious recording media such as a CD or the like.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of assistance in explaining a content registeringprocess procedure for inputting contents from a CD, and storing theinput contents and content information such as the name of an album andthe like in the data storage unit 121.

A process of inputting contents from a CD into a PC is referred to as aripping process. FIG. 6 shows an example of a screen displayed on thedisplay. The screen is generated by the GUI unit at the time of theripping process. The displayed data includes: a CD information displayunit 211 including a list of musical piece information stored on a CD,and the like; a my library information display unit 212 that can displayinformation of a list of contents already stored in the data storageunit 120 such as a hard disk or the like on the information processingapparatus side; and an operating button display unit 213 for starting orstopping data transfer between the CD and the data storage unit 120 by aclick operation or the like by the user.

In inputting contents from the CD (ripping), the user operates theoperating button display unit 213 to thereby input the contents.

Data processing at the time of the content input process is performed bydata processing units of the content management processing unit 112, themusical piece managing unit 114, and the GUI unit 111. It is to be notedthat while the input of data via the drive 119 will be described in thefollowing as one example of a content registering process, the dataprocessing units of the content management processing unit 112, themusical piece managing unit 114, and the GUI unit 111 performsubstantially the same process when the communicating unit 118 isstarted and contents are input from a content server, except that thesource of the input data is different.

A process in each step of the flow of FIG. 5 will be described. In firststep S101, content information recorded on the CD is detected. On someCDs, the name of the album, the name of an artist, the names of musicalpieces, musical piece length information, and the like are recorded inthe form of text data, for example, as content attribute informationtogether with contents. The information processing apparatus 100 toperform the ripping process first performs a process of detectingwhether such content information is recorded on the CD.

When such content information is recorded on the CD (step S102: Yes),the process proceeds to step S110, where the content information(attribute information), that is, the content information such as thename of the album, the name of an artist, the names of musical pieces,musical piece length information, and the like is captured from the CDinto the information processing apparatus, and then stored in a RAM as atemporary memory area or a temporary storage area set in the hard disk.The process proceeds to step S106, where a process of inputting contentsfrom the CD (ripping) is started. Incidentally, when content attributeinformation such for example as CD-TEXT or CD EXTRA is stored in advanceon the CD, the attribute information data is obtained. When the contentsare MP3 data, the attribute information data is obtained from an ID3 tagas tag data.

When such content information is not recorded on the CD (step S102: No),the process proceeds to step S103, where a process of obtaining contentinformation from the content information providing server 103 isperformed. An album CD storing a plurality of musical pieces generallyhas TOC information recorded thereon. Basically, TOC information is setin correspondence with an album CD storing a plurality of musicalpieces. TOC information is data obtained by coding length (the number offrames on the CD) of each musical piece recorded on the CD, and can berepresented by text data.

The following is a concrete example of TOC information.

[150 29343 52049 73471 92322 98519 119236 135071 158318 175367]

The above TOC information is data in which the number of frames of eachmusical piece is recorded:

The number of frames of a first musical piece: 150

The number of frames of a second musical piece: 29343

The number of frames of a third musical piece: 52049

The number of frames of a tenth musical piece: 175367

The number of frames is data corresponding to a play time of a musicalpiece included in an album. The content information providing server 161receives this TOC information and can obtain content information asinformation registered in the TOC server, that is, information such asthe name of the album, the name of an artist, the names of musicalpieces, musical piece length information, and the like. However, whenthe TOC information matching the transmitted information is notregistered in the content information providing server 161, theinformation cannot be received.

Incidentally, the content information may be obtained from a hashinformation service providing server in addition to the TOC serviceproviding server.

When the process of obtaining the content information from the server issuccessfully performed in step S103 (step S104: Yes), the processproceeds to step S106 to start a process of inputting contents from theCD (ripping).

When the process of obtaining the content information from the server isfailed in step S103 (step S104: No), the user inputs contentinformation, that is, information such as the name of the album, thename of an artist, the names of musical pieces, and the like in stepS105. Thereafter the process proceeds to step S106 to start a process ofinputting contents from the CD (ripping).

After the process of inputting contents from the CD is started in stepS106, a content file is generated in step S106, and the generatedcontent file is stored in the musical piece file storage unit 123 of thedata storage unit 120.

Further, a file registration process is performed in step S108. The fileregistration process is a process of generating and registeringmanagement data corresponding to the content file stored in the musicalpiece file storage unit 123, that is, data to be stored in the musicalpiece management information storage unit 122. The file registrationprocess is for example a process of generating an entry for thealbum/musical piece table described earlier with reference to FIG. 3.

Incidentally, the process described with reference to FIG. 5 is aprocess of inputting contents from a CD. Also in inputting contents froma content server, after a content entity and information such as thename of an album, the name of an artist, the names of musical pieces,musical piece length information, and the like as content attributeinformation are obtained from the content server or the contentinformation providing server. The content file is stored in the musicalpiece file storage unit 123. The process in step S108, that is, the fileregistration process for registering management data corresponding tothe stored content file is performed.

Details of the file registration process will be described withreference to a flowchart of FIG. 7. In first step S201, whether the nameof an artist is included in the content information obtained from the CDor the external server, or by user input is determined. When the name ofan artist is included in the content information, the process proceedsto step S202 to perform an initial letter automatic determinationroutine.

The initial letter automatic determination routine is a process ofdetermining an initial letter corresponding to the name of an artist ascontent management information corresponding to the content file(musical piece file) stored in the musical piece file storage unit 123.Details of the initial letter automatic determination routine will bedescribed later.

When the initial letter is determined in step S202, the process proceedsto step S203, where the determined initial letter information isregistered as management data in the musical piece managementinformation storage unit 122. That is, a process is performed to storecontent management information including the determined initial letterinformation in the musical piece management information storage unit 122of the data storage unit 120 as content management informationcorresponding to the content file stored in the musical piece filestorage unit 123.

For example, the determined initial letter is registered as artistinitial letter information in the album/musical piece table shown inFIG. 3A, and stored in the musical piece management information storageunit 122. Incidentally, in this case, the name of the artist included inthe content information obtained from the CD or the external server, orby user input is registered as an artist name in the album/musical piecetable shown in FIG. 3A.

When no artist name is included in the content information obtained fromthe CD or the external server, or by user input in step S201, theprocess proceeds to step S205, where “other” is set as an initialletter. The process then proceeds to step S203, where the determinedinitial letter information =“other” is registered as management data.For example, “other” is registered as artist initial letter informationin the album/musical piece table shown in FIG. 3A. Incidentally, anartist name field in this case is blank (no registered information) inthe album/musical piece table shown in FIG. 3A.

Incidentally, a data retrieval or sort process is made possible on thebasis of the musical piece management information data thus stored inthe musical piece management information storage unit 122 of the datastorage unit 120. For example, a data retrieval process can be performedwith initial letter information in registered content managementinformation used as a search key, and a sort process can be performed topresent entries in alphabetical order by initial letter, for example.

When information, for example a component letter of the alphabet isinput by the user via the GUI unit 111, the musical piece managing unit114 retrieves data stored in the musical piece management informationstorage unit 122 to extract content management information in whichinitial letter information corresponding to the letter information inputby the user is registered, and then presents the content managementinformation to the user via the GUI unit 111. Incidentally, inpresenting the information, the information sorted in alphabetical orderis presented. An example of presenting the information will be describedlater.

Details of the initial letter automatic determination routine performedin step S202 will next be described with reference to FIG. 8.

In first step S301, whether an artist name to be registered is presentas data already registered in the musical piece management informationstorage unit 122 is determined. This is performed as a process ofdetermining whether the same artist name is already registered in thealbum/musical piece table shown in FIG. 3A, for example. If the sameartist name is registered, it is determined that the same artist name isregistered even when albums and musical pieces are different. When it isdetermined that the same artist name is registered, the process proceedsto step S311, where the same initial letter as an initial letterregistered in correspondence with the already registered artist name isset as the registered initial letter of management information (a newentry set in the album/musical piece table shown in FIG. 3A)corresponding to the newly set content file.

When it is determined in step S301 that the artist name to be registeredis not registered in a musical piece management information file, theprocess proceeds to step S302 to determine whether a first character ofthe artist name to be registered corresponds to one of alphabeticcharacters. The artist name subjected to the determination is includedin the content information obtained from the CD or the external server,or by user input as content information corresponding to the newlygenerated content file.

When the first character of the artist name to be registered correspondsto one of the alphabetic characters, the process proceeds to step S305to set the first character of the artist name to be registered, that is,one of the alphabetic characters the first character as a registeredinitial letter.

When the first character of the artist name to be registered does notcorrespond to any of the alphabetic characters, the process proceeds tostep S303 to determine whether the first character of the artist name tobe registered corresponds to one of hiragana characters or katakanacharacters. When the first character of the artist name to be registeredcorresponds to one of hiragana characters or katakana characters, theprocess proceeds to step S304 to convert the hiragana character or thekatakana character into the alphabet according to a conversion table ofthe Hepburn system or the like. Incidentally, the character conversiontable 125 (see FIG. 2) stored in advance in the data storage unit withinthe information processing apparatus is applied as a conversion table.

In step S305, one of the alphabetic characters the first characterconverted according to the character conversion table is set as aregistered initial letter. In this case, hiragana or katakana data isregistered as the artist name of the new entry set in the album/musicalpiece table shown in FIG. 3A, while one of the alphabetic characters isregistered as the initial letter information of the new entry.

When it is determined in step S303 that the first character of theartist name to be registered does not correspond to any of the hiraganacharacters or the katakana characters, the process proceeds to step S312to set a registered initial letter as “other.” In this case, data, forexample Chinese character data other than alphabetic characters,hiragana, or katakana is registered as the artist name of the new entryset in the album/musical piece table shown in FIG. 3A, while “other” isregistered as the initial letter information of the new entry.

Description will next be made of a process sequence for changing alreadyregistered management information, that is, data stored in the musicalpiece management information storage unit 122 shown in FIG. 2, forexample data already registered in the album/musical piece table shownin FIG. 3A.

Referring to FIG. 9, description will first be made of a process forchanging a registered initial letter corresponding to one artist namefrom the registered data. This process is useful for example when theuser changes automatically registered initial letter data of “other” ina case of a Chinese character artist whose initial letter is registeredas “other” in the above-described initial letter automatic determinationroutine. Alternatively, the process is useful as a changing process forexample when an initial letter registered in the initial letterautomatic determination routine does not suit an image of the user. Forexample, “T” is registered as a registered initial letter of “TheBeatles” in the above-described initial letter automatic determinationroutine. The changing process is used when this initial letter “T” isdesired to be changed to “B.”

Each step of a flow shown in FIG. 9 will be described. In first stepS401, an entry in the album and musical piece table of an artist whoseinitial letter is to be changed is retrieved from the database (musicalpiece management information). The musical piece managing unit 114outputs an instruction for retrieval to the file retrieving unit 115 onthe basis of information input by the user via the GUI unit 111, and thedata stored in the musical piece management information storage unit 122is obtained on the basis of the instruction.

In step S402, the extracted album information is displayed. The dataobtained in step S401 is sent from the musical piece managing unit 114to the GUI unit 111. The GUI unit 111 generates display data, and thenpresents the display data on the display.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the displayed album information. Thedisplayed album information includes registered data of items of oneentry (an entry corresponding to an album) registered in thealbum/musical piece table shown in FIG. 3A. The user can change thesepieces of registered data. Incidentally, INITIAL (I) is an initialletter.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, the name of an artist is “HIRAI . . . ”(in Chinese characters), and thus the initial letter registered in theabove-described initial letter automatic determination routine is“other.”

In step S403, the user changes the initial letter of the artist in theretrieved entry in the album and musical piece table, and registers thechanged initial letter. Specifically, the user changes the registeredinitial letter data at a data input part 231 in FIG. 10 to “H” as shownin the figure, for example, and then clicks an OK button 232, wherebythe initial letter of the artist in the data entry already registered inthe album/musical piece table shown in FIG. 3A can be changed and thenregistered.

Referring to FIG. 11, description will next be made of a process forchanging en bloc registered initial letters corresponding to a pluralityof artist names from already registered data.

In first step S501, an artist name editing screen is displayed. Themusical piece managing unit 114 obtains data stored in the musical piecemanagement information storage unit on the basis of information input bythe user via the GUI unit 111. The GUI unit 111 generates display dataon the basis of the obtained information, and then presents the displaydata on the display.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the displayed artist name editing screen.The displayed artist name editing screen is presented as dataassociating artist names and initial letters (initials) of a pluralityof entries registered in the album/musical piece table shown in FIG. 3Awith each other.

In step S502, the user selects an entry to be changed from the entriespresented on the artist name editing screen, changes the initial letter(initial), and then registers the changed initial letter. Specifically,the user clicks a change button 252 in FIG. 12. Thereafter the userselects an entry to be changed from a data display part 251, changes theinitial letter (initial), and then clicks an OK button 253. Thereby theinitial letter of an artist in the data entry already registered in thealbum/musical piece table shown in FIG. 3A can be changed and thenregistered.

Whether there is data yet to be changed is determined in step S503. Whenthere is data yet to be changed, the initial letter changing process ofstep S502 is repeated. When changing of all data to be changed iscompleted, the process is ended.

The data changed in this process is reflected and registered in themanagement data stored in the musical piece management informationstorage unit 122 including the album/musical piece table shown in FIG.3A.

An example of use of initial letter information will next be describedwith reference to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14. As described above, the musicalpiece management information storage unit 122 stores the management dataincluding artist names and the initial letter information of the artistnames, and the user can perform a data search on the basis of theinitial letter information.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a screen in an album search process based onthe initial letter information. The display screen shown in FIG. 13 isan example of display data generated by the GUI unit 111 after themusical piece managing unit 114 extracts data from the musical piecemanagement information storage unit 122 on the basis of user inputinformation from the GUI unit 111 and then sends the extracted data tothe GUI unit 111.

As shown in FIG. 13, alphabet list information of A to Z and “other” asan index 271 is presented on the screen presented by the GUI unit 111.The user selects one from the alphabet list of A to Z and “other”presented as the index 271, and clicks it. Thereby the click informationis input to the musical piece managing unit 114, and the musical piecemanaging unit 114 extracts data from the musical piece managementinformation storage unit 122.

The display example shown in FIG. 13 is an example of a screen displayedwhen an alphabetic character [D] is selected from the index 271. Anindex section 272 is set at a left end of an album information displaysection in FIG. 13. The initial letter information is displayed in theindex section 272. When [D] is selected, entries in which the initialletter [D] is set are presented from a top of the album informationdisplay section, and subsequent album information is displayed inalphabetical order of D, E, F . . . .

The user selects and clicks an arbitrary alphabetic character [A to Z]or [other] from the index 251, and can make album information having theselected alphabetic character set as initial letter information thereofdisplayed.

Incidentally, a data search through the management information can alsobe performed from an artist name. As shown in FIG. 14, for example, alist of artist names is presented as an index 281. The user selects andclicks this artist name. Thereby click information is input to themusical piece managing unit 114. The musical piece managing unit 114extracts data from the musical piece management information storage unit122, and then sends the extracted data to the GUI unit 111. The GUI unit111 generates display data.

In this case, album information corresponding to the selected artistname is presented at a top of an album information list, and othersubsequent album information is presented in alphabetical order.

An example of a hardware configuration of the information processingapparatus performing the above-described processes will next bedescribed with reference to FIG. 15.

A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501 is a control unit for performingprocesses according to various computer programs such as programs of anOS (Operating System), a content recording and reproducing process, acontent input process such as ripping or the like, a content informationobtaining process based on TOC information or hash information.

A ROM (Read Only Memory) 502 stores a program used by the CPU 501,operation parameters, and the like. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 503stores a program used in execution of the CPU 501, a parameter changedas required in the execution, and the like. A host bus 504 including aCPU bus or the like interconnects the CPU 501, the ROM 502, and the RAM503.

The host bus 504 is connected to an external bus 506 such as a PCI(Peripheral Component Interconnect/Interface) bus or the like via abridge 505.

The user operates a keyboard 508 when inputting various instructions tothe CPU 501. The user operates a pointing device 509 when specifying orselecting a point on a screen of a display 510. The display 510constitutes a liquid crystal display, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), or thelike. The display 510 displays various information in the form of textand images. An HDD (hard disk drive) 511 drives a hard disk to record orreproduce information or a program to be executed by the CPU 501.

A drive 512 reads data or a program recorded on a removable recordingmedium 521 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-opticaldisk, a semiconductor memory, or the like inserted in the drive 512. Thedrive 512 then supplies the data or the program to the RAM 503 connectedthereto via an interface 507, the external bus 506, the bridge 505, andthe host bus 504.

A connecting port 514 is a port for connecting an external connectingdevice 522 such for example as a player. The connecting port 514 has aUSB, an IEEE1394, or another connecting part. The connecting port 514 isconnected to the CPU 501 and the like via the interface 507, theexternal bus 506, the bridge 505, the host bus 504, and the like.

A communicating unit 515 is connected to a network. The communicatingunit 515 performs a process for transmitting data supplied from the CPU501, the HDD 511, or the like, or receiving data from a server. Thecommunicating unit 515 for example performs a communication process inobtaining contents and obtaining content information.

The present invention has been explained above in detail with referenceto a specific embodiment thereof. It is obvious, however, thatmodifications of the embodiment and substitutions may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention. That is, the present invention has been disclosed in a formthat is illustrative and is not to be considered restrictive. In orderto determine the spirit of the present invention, the section of claimsis to be considered.

The series of processes described in the specification can be carriedout by hardware or by software or by a combined configuration of both.When a process is to be carried out by software, a program in which aprocess sequence is recorded can be installed into a memory within acomputer incorporated in special hardware, and then executed, orinstalled onto a general-purpose computer capable of various processing,and then executed.

For example, the program can be recorded in advance on a hard disk or ina ROM (Read Only Memory) as a recording medium. Alternatively, theprogram can be stored (recorded) temporarily or permanently on aremovable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (CompactDisc Read Only Memory), an MO (Magneto optical) disk, a DVD (DigitalVersatile Disc), a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like.Such removable recording media can be provided as so-called packagedsoftware.

In addition to being installed onto a computer from a removablerecording medium as described above, the program can be transferred byradio from a download site to a computer or transferred to a computer bywire via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, orthe like. The computer can receive the program thus transferred thereto,and install the program onto a recording medium such as a built-in harddisk or the like.

It is to be noted that the various processes described in thespecification may be carried out not only in time series according tothe description but also in parallel or individually according toprocessing capability of an apparatus performing the processes or asrequired. In the present specification, a system refers to a logical setconfiguration of a plurality of apparatus, and each component apparatusis not necessarily present within the same casing. IndustrialApplicability As described above, according to the constitution of thepresent invention, content attribute information is obtained via arecording medium such as a CD or the like, or via a network, or as userinput data. An artist name is extracted from the obtained contentattribute information. Initial letter information is determined on abasis of the artist name. Content information including the initialletter information is stored and registered in a data storage unit ascontent management information corresponding to a content file.Therefore a data search process using the initial letter information inthe content management information as a search key and a sort processare made possible. The present invention is applied to for example ajukebox application that manages many contents and implements auser-friendly data management configuration.

Further, according to the constitution of the present invention, thecontent management information including the initial letter informationof the artist name is automatically determined and registered regardlessof a kind of the artist name such as the alphabet, kana, or katakana.Therefore a process is made possible which generates and registers themanagement data efficiently and quickly and hence reduces a burden onthe user. Thus, the present invention is applied to for example ajukebox application that manages many contents, and implements auser-friendly data management configuration.

Further, according to the constitution of the present invention, thecontent information including the initial letter information of theartist name is stored and registered in the data storage unit as thecontent management information corresponding to the content file, andediting including a process of changing the registered information ismade possible. Therefore, even when there is registered data that doesnot suit an image of the user as a result of the automatic registration,the data can be changed and set, so that management data respecting anintention of the user can be generated and registered. Thus, the presentinvention is applied to for example a jukebox application that managesmany contents, and implements a user-friendly data managementconfiguration.

1. An information processing apparatus comprising: a data storage unitfor storing a content file including content entity data and contentmanagement information; and a data processing unit for extracting anartist name from content attribute information as said contentmanagement information, determining initial letter information on abasis of the extracted artist name, and storing the content managementinformation including the determined initial letter information as thecontent management information corresponding to said content file insaid data storage unit.
 2. The information processing apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said data processing unit obtains contentinformation stored on an information recording medium as a content inputsource, extracts the artist name from the obtained content information,and determines the initial letter information on the basis of theextracted artist name.
 3. The information processing apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said data processing unit extracts theartist name from content information received via a network, anddetermines the initial letter information on the basis of the extractedartist name.
 4. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim1, wherein said data processing unit receives content information from aserver providing service that is either TOC service or hash informationservice, extracts the artist name from the received content information,and determines the initial letter information on the basis of theextracted artist name.
 5. The information processing apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said data processing unit obtains contentinformation based on a user input, extracts the artist name from theobtained content information, and determines the initial letterinformation on the basis of the extracted artist name.
 6. Theinformation processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when afirst character of the artist name is formed by an alphabetic character,said data processing unit determines the first character as an initialletter; and when the first character of the artist name is formed by ahiragana or katakana character, said data processing unit converts thefirst character into an alphabetic character on a basis of a characterconversion table, and determines the converted character as an initialletter.
 7. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein said data processing unit performs an initial letter editingprocess of changing the initial letter information included in thecontent management information registered in the data storage unit on abasis of a user input, and registering the changed initial letterinformation.
 8. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim1, wherein said data processing unit outputs an editing screen forediting content management information corresponding to one artist namefrom the content management information registered in the data storageunit to a display, changes initial letter information corresponding tothe one artist name on a basis of a user input to the editing screen,and registers the changed initial letter information.
 9. The informationprocessing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data processingunit outputs an editing screen for editing content managementinformation corresponding to a plurality of artist names from thecontent management information registered in the data storage unit to adisplay, changes en bloc initial letter information corresponding to theplurality of artist names on a basis of user inputs to the editingscreen, and registers en bloc the changed initial letter information.10. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid data processing unit performs a data search process using initialletter information in the content management information registered inthe data storage unit as a search key, and extracts and presents contentmanagement information in which initial letter information correspondingto user-input information is registered.
 11. An information processingmethod for performing a process of registering content managementinformation, said information processing method comprising: a contentattribute information obtaining step of obtaining content attributeinformation; an artist name extracting step of extracting an artist namefrom the content attribute information; an initial letter informationdetermining step of determining initial letter information on a basis ofthe extracted artist name; and a content management informationregistering step of storing and registering content informationincluding the determined initial letter information as contentmanagement information corresponding to a content file in a data storageunit.
 12. The information processing method as claimed in claim 11,wherein said content attribute information obtaining step is a processto which either a process of obtaining the content information stored onan information recording medium as a source from which contents areobtained, or a process of obtaining the content information via anetwork, or a process of obtaining the content information on a basis ofa user input is selectively applied.
 13. The information processingmethod as claimed in claim 11, wherein said content attributeinformation obtaining step is a step of receiving the contentinformation from a server providing service that is either TOC serviceor hash information service.
 14. The information processing method asclaimed in claim 11, wherein in said initial letter informationdetermining step, when a first character of the artist name is formed byan alphabetic character, the first character is determined as an initialletter; and when the first character of the artist name is formed by ahiragana or katakana character, the first character is converted into analphabetic character on a basis of a character conversion table, and theconverted character is determined as an initial letter.
 15. Theinformation processing method as claimed in claim 11, further comprisinga step of performing an initial letter editing process of changing theinitial letter information included in the content managementinformation registered in the data storage unit on a basis of a userinput, and registering the changed initial letter information.
 16. Theinformation processing method as claimed in claim 11, further comprisinga step of outputting an editing screen for editing content managementinformation corresponding to one artist name from the content managementinformation registered in the data storage unit to a display, changinginitial letter information corresponding to the one artist name on abasis of a user input to the editing screen, and registering the changedinitial letter information.
 17. The information processing method asclaimed in claim 11, further comprising a step of outputting an editingscreen for editing content management information corresponding to aplurality of artist names from the content management informationregistered in the data storage unit to a display, changing en blocinitial letter information corresponding to the plurality of artistnames on a basis of user inputs to the editing screen, and registeringen bloc the changed initial letter information.
 18. The informationprocessing method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a step ofperforming a data search process using initial letter information in thecontent management information registered in the data storage unit as asearch key, and extracting and presenting content management informationin which initial letter information corresponding to user-inputinformation is registered.
 19. A computer program for performing aprocess of registering content management information, said computerprogram comprising: a content attribute information obtaining step ofobtaining content attribute information; an artist name extracting stepof extracting an artist name from the content attribute information; aninitial letter information determining step of determining initialletter information on a basis of the extracted artist name; and acontent management information registering step of storing andregistering content information including the determined initial letterinformation as content management information corresponding to a contentfile in a data storage unit.